Job Description
Substitute Teacher - updated January 2026
| Perm/contract: SY25-26 | Department:
|
| FLSA Status: Non-exempt | Reports to: Building Administration |
| Primary Reporting Location: Assigned School Building | Level: PK-8 |
Substitute Pay Rates: A full day is defined as the entire school day. Daily Rate for Substitute Teachers:
Long -Term Substitute Teacher Rates:
Substitute Teacher Assistants: $120 per day | Date Available: SY25-26 |
| Bargaining Unit & Classification: N/A | Supervisory Responsibilities: None |
About the District
Oak Park Elementary School District 97 is a PK-8 elementary school district serving the students of Oak Park in Cook County, Illinois. Oak Park is a village in Cook County, Illinois, adjacent to Chicago. It is the 29th-most populous municipality in Illinois with a population of 54,583 as of the 2020 U.S. Census. The district consists of 8 elementary schools and 2 middle schools which serve 5,532 students.
Oak Park School District is a highly diverse and welcoming school community for all. Our community has a history of being forward-thinking and inclusive. We are racially and economically diverse with about 46% of our students identifying as African-American, Hispanic, multiracial, or Asian.
Portrait of a District 97 Leader:
- Champions the vision of the school district.
- Leads with an unrelenting commitment to serve ALL students.
- Embraces the connection between public school leadership, student learning and equity.
- Aspires to the highest standards of integrity, professionalism and confidentiality.
- Models a forward-thinking and innovative mindset.
- Stewards public funds with a high sense of responsibility.
- Balances a drive to lead with an awareness of the cross-functional nature of district work.
- Demonstrates the ability to organize teams to achieve common goals.
- Generates a culture of care for, learning with and service to the community.
- Demonstrates a passion to work in collaboration with a culturally, racially and linguistically diverse district team of administrators, educators and staff in all roles.
- Actively seeks feedback, including critical feedback intended for professional growth.
- Courageously addresses adult behavior that does not meet professional expectations.
About the Role
District 97 seeks a dedicated and dynamic individual to work as a substitute. Substitutes work within the district, demonstrating a passion for working with elementary and middle school age students. The ideal person has the ability to create an inclusive and supportive learning environment for students from diverse linguistic and cultural backgrounds. They establish a positive rapport with students, motivating them to develop the skills, attitudes, and knowledge needed to pursue their full potential.
Substitutes fill a variety of assignments. They commit to learning and implementing evidence-based instructional strategies, as well as program planning, supporting students' individual needs, effectively communicating and collaborating with parents, administrators, and fellow educators as needed. The ideal candidate will work in support of the district's equity commitments as expressed in Board Policy 7:12: Ensuring Racial and Educational Equity
Essential Role Responsibilities:
- Communicate and collaborate regularly with other teachers in regards to planning, assessment, parent and community contact, and grade level meetings;
- Instruct students in assigned classroom by using lesson plans provided by the teacher;
- Convey information to students to prepare them for testing, achieve curriculum goals, and ensure the teacher's absence does not cause an interruption in classroom instruction;
- Gain familiarity with district curriculum and resources;
- Maintain classroom safety;
- Perform supervision duties as assigned; and
- Perform other duties as assigned.
Content Knowledge, Skills, and Abilities Required:
- Positive attitude;
- Willingness to help supervise;
- Ability to collaborate with others;
- Ability to communicate with parents;
- Flexible and willing to adapt to change at short notice;
- Ability to teach day to day assignments;
- Ability to instruct and communicate well with elementary and middle school students;
- Effective oral and written communication skills;
- Strong interpersonal skills, utilizing tact, patience, and courtesy;
- Competent in operating standard office and classroom equipment, including computers and assigned software;
- Ability to understand and relate to students with special needs;
- Adherence to District organization, operations, policies, and objectives, as well as department and program goals;
- Skillful interpretation, application, and explanation of policies, procedures, rules, and regulations;
- Effective communication, cooperation, and maintenance of cooperative working relationships with others;
- Accurate analysis of situations and adoption of effective courses of action;
- Ability to prioritize and schedule work efficiently;
- Proficient in maintaining records and preparing reports; and
- Consistent, punctual, and regular attendance.
Qualifications:
- Bachelor's Degree, perferred
- Professional Educator License or Substitute License
- Previous teaching experience preferred (elementary or middle school).
Physical Requirements:
This position requires the performance of light work�which requires exerting up to 20 pounds of force occasionally, and/or up to 10 pounds of force frequently to move objects. The position includes close visual acuity, frequent talking, hearing, walking and standing, occasional lifting, carrying, pushing, and/or pulling, some stooping, kneeling, crouching and/or crawling and significant fine finger dexterity. The job is performed in non-hazardous environments and a clean atmosphere.